Multifunctional control channel for pseudowire emulation

ABSTRACT

A system advertises a multifunctional control channel (MFCC) in an interface parameter sub-type-length-value (TLV) of an advertisement label mapping message that is dispatched to a network device. The system also processes a reply label mapping message that is transmitted from the network device in response to the advertisement label mapping message and updates a label information base to establish a pseudowire and a MFCC associated with the pseudowire.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/689,537, filed on Mar. 22, 2007, which claims priority under 35U.S.C. §119 based on U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/871,209,filed Dec. 21, 2006, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Legacy network systems, such as ones based on Frame Relay orAsynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), may communicate with packet switchednetworks (PSN), such as an Internet Protocol (IP) switching network or aMulti-protocol Label Switching (MPLS) network, which provide pseudowireemulation (PWE). PWE and associated pseudowires may be managed andcontrolled by establishing and using control channels for thepseudowires.

However, each control channel may only serve specific functions forwhich it is established. To apply different types of control functions,the pseudowires may need to be re-established, which, in turn, can leadto downtime and increased operational cost of PWE-based services.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows, at the data link layer level, networks in which amultifunctional control channel may be implemented;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary block diagram of Provider Edge (PE) routers andProvider Switch (PS) routers of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary functional block diagram of components includedin and/or implemented by PE and PS routers of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary functional block diagram of the forwarding logicof FIG. 3;

FIG. 5A illustrates an exemplary packet that may arrive at a PE routerof FIG. 1;

FIG. 5B illustrates an exemplary packet with a MPLS header insertedbetween the two headers of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 5C illustrates an exemplary structure of the MPLS header of FIG.5B;

FIG. 6 shows an exemplary functional block diagram of the routing logicof FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary representation of a pseudowire and some ofthe components of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 shows an exemplary functional block diagram of the pseudowirelogic of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9A shows an exemplary format of a Label Distribution Protocol (LDP)message;

FIG. 9B depicts an exemplary format for the Mandatory/OptionalParameters field of FIG. 9A;

FIG. 9C shows an exemplary format for the forwarding equivalence class(FEC) type-length-value (TLV) of FIG. 9B;

FIGS. 10A and 10B show exemplary structures of a pseudowire (PW) ID FECElement and a Generalized PW ID FEC Element, respectively;

FIG. 10C shows an exemplary structure of the Interface Parameters TLV ofFIG. 10B;

FIG. 11A illustrates exemplary Virtual Circuit Control Verification(VCCV) Parameter field in LDP messages for establishing a pseudowire;

FIG. 11B shows an exemplary placement of a control word in a controlmessage;

FIG. 11C shows an exemplary structure of the PW Associated ChannelHeader of FIG. 11B;

FIG. 12 shows an exemplary process for establishing a multifunctionalcontrol channel for pseudowire (PW) emulation;

FIG. 13 shows an exemplary process for writing a LDP message which mayconvey PWE and Multifunctional Control Channel (MFCC) capabilities fromone PE router to another PE router; and

FIG. 14 illustrates an exemplary process for exchanging MFCC messagesusing an MFCC.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings.The same reference numbers in different drawings may identify the sameor similar elements. As used herein, the term “bidirectional forwardingdetection” (BFD) may refer to continuous monitoring of a route or a datapath for faults in both forward and reverse directions.

Implementations described herein may relate to establishment and/or useof a multifunctional control channel for sending control messagesthrough pseudowires. A multifunctional control channel may serve manyfunctions without re-establishing the pseudowire.

FIG. 1 shows, at a data link layer level (i.e., layer 2 in the OpenSystems Interconnection (OSI) network model), a network 100 in which amultifunctional control channel may be implemented. Network 100 mayinclude legacy networks 102 and 104, an IP/MPLS network 106, andattachment circuits 108 and 110.

Legacy networks 102 and 104 may include devices and/or systems forproviding native network services such as, for example, Ethernet, ATM,Frame Relay, and/or Time-division Multiplexing (TDM). As further shownin FIG. 1, legacy networks 102 and 104 may include customer edge (CE)routers 112 and 114. CE routers 112 and 114 may include routers locatedon customer premises and may provide an entry into and/or an exit fromlegacy networks 102 and 104.

IP/MPLS network 106 may include devices and/or systems that provide fastswitching of packets. As shown in FIG. 1, IP/MPLS network 106 mayinclude provider edge (PE) routers 116 and 118 and provider switch (PS)routers 120 and 122. PE routers 116 and 118 may include routers that mayprovide an entry and/or an exit to and from IP/MPLS network 106. PSrouters 120 and 122 may include routers that accept IP/MPLS packets androute them toward their destination devices.

Attachment circuits 108 and 110 may include ATM, Frame Relay, TDM, orother layer 2 transport. Packets to and from legacy networks 102 and 104may pass through attachment circuits 108 and 110 to move into and out ofIP/MPLS network 106.

Packets may depend on IP/MPLS network 106 to transport them from adevice (e.g., CE router 112) in legacy network 102 to another device(e.g., CE router 114) in legacy network 104. In order to transport thepackets that arrive through attachment circuits 108 and 110, IP/MPLSnetwork 106 may establish network paths, known as pseudowires, and mayroute packets over the pseudowires.

The pseudowires may be managed by setting and using multifunctionalcontrol channels. A multifunctional control channel may serve manyfunctions over the lifetime of a pseudowire, unlike a control channelthat serves only predetermined functions. PE routers 116/118 and/or PSrouters 120/122 may establish pseudowires, route packets over thepseudowires, set multifunctional control channels, and/or control thepseudowires over the multifunctional control channels.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary block diagram of PE routers 116/118 andPS router 120/122 of FIG. 1, hereinafter referred to as “PE/PS routers116-122.” Each of PE/PS routers 116-122 may include a processor 202,memory 204, line interfaces 206 and 208, an interconnect 210, and a bus212.

Processor 202 may include one or more processors, microprocessors,and/or processing logic optimized for networking and communications.Processor 202 may process packets and/or network path-relatedinformation. Memory 204 may include static memory, such as read onlymemory (ROM), dynamic memory, such as random access memory (RAM), and/oronboard cache, for storing data and machine-readable instructions.Memory 204 may also include storage devices, such as a floppy disk, a CDROM, a CD read/write (R/W) disc, and/or flash memory, as well as othertypes of storage devices. Line interfaces 206 and 208 may includedevices for receiving incoming packets from networks and fortransmitting packets to networks. Interconnect 210 may include switchesfor conveying an incoming packet from line interface 206 to lineinterface 208 based on a packet destination and stored path information.Examples of interconnect 210 may include a communication bus and aswitch fabric. Bus 212 may include a path, in addition to lineinterfaces 206 and 208, that permits communications among components ofeach of PE/PS routers 116-122.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary functional block diagram of components includedin or implemented by each of PE/PS routers 116-122 of FIG. 1. As shown,PE/PS routers 116-122 may include a buffer manager 302, forwarding logic304, and routing logic 306. Buffer manager 302 may provide a buffer forqueuing incoming packets. If packets arrive simultaneously, one or moreof the packets may await in the buffer until higher priority packets areprocessed and/or transmitted. Forwarding logic 304 may include hardwareand/or software for directing a packet to a proper output port on lineinterface 208 based on routing information. Routing logic 306 mayinclude hardware and/or software for communicating with other routers togather and store routing information in a LIB.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary functional block diagram of forwarding logic 304of FIG. 3. As shown, forwarding logic 304 may include MPLS logic 402, alabel forwarding information base (LFIB) 404, and a label informationbase (LIB) 406. MPLS logic 402 may include hardware and/or software forexamining the header of an incoming packet and for sending the packet tothe proper output port, based on the header information and path/routinginformation stored in LFIB 404 and LIB 406. LFIB 404 and LIB 406 mayinclude a table and/or a database of network paths, called LabelSwitched Paths (LSPs), and/or routing information. LFIB 404 may containmore frequently used portions of LIB 406 and may be smaller than LIB406.

MPLS logic 402 may perform different routing procedures, depending onwhether its host router is operating as PE router 116, PE router 118, PSrouter 120, or PS router 122. It is possible for the host router tooperate as PE router 116 or PS router 120 at different instances,depending on an incoming packet and its network configuration. If thehost router operates as PE router 116, MPLS logic 402 may convert apacket that enters network 106 into a MPLS packet, by adding a MPLSheader, as described below, to the packet. Conversely, MPLS logic 402may convert a MPLS packet that exits network 106 by stripping away itsMPLS header.

FIG. 5A illustrates an exemplary packet 500 that may arrive at PE router116. As illustrated, packet 500 may include a L2 header 502 (i.e., OSIlevel 2 packet header) and a L3 header 504 (i.e., OSI level 3 packetheader). Upon receiving packet 500, MPLS logic 402 may categorize packet500 into a class, may determine the next destination of packet 500 basedon the classification, LFIB 404, and/or LIB 406. In addition, MPLS logic402 may insert a MPLS header 506 between L2 header 502 and L3 header504, as illustrated in FIG. 5B, and may transmit packet 500 at outputline card 208 (FIG. 2). At PE router 118, if packet 500, as shown inFIG. 5B, arrives to exit IP/MPLS network 106, MPLS logic 402 may stripMPLS header 506 to recover packet 500 as shown in FIG. 5A and may sendpacket 500 to network 104.

If the host router operates as PS router 120, MPLS logic 402 may performan operation on MPLS header 506 of a received packet and may send (i.e.,route) the packet based on MPLS header 506. The operation may includecreating another MPLS header and inserting it next to MPLS header 506,swapping MPLS header 506 for another MPLS header, and/or removing MPLSheader 506.

FIG. 5C illustrates the structure of MPLS header 506, which may includea label 508. In PS router 120, label 508 may be used by MPLS logic 402as an index into LFIB 404 or LIB 406 to determine the operation (i.e.,creating and inserting a MPLS header, swapping a MPLS header withanother, or removing a MPLS header) and the next destination. Becausemany operations may be performed on a packet during its transit throughnetwork 106 (e.g., at a particular PS router 120 or 122), it may bepossible for the packet to have more than one MPLS header 506. However,if the packet leaves network 106, it may have shed MPLS headers thathave been inserted since its entry into network 106.

FIG. 6 shows an exemplary functional block diagram of routing logic 306.As shown, routing logic 306 may include label distribution protocol(LDP) logic 602, pseudowire logic 604, and other logics 606.

LDP logic 602 may include hardware and/or software for sharing labelswith other PE and PS routers that include LDP logic. Pseudowire logic604 may include hardware and/or software for establishing pseudowires,as described below in more detail. Other logic 606 may include hardwareand/or software for implementing other capabilities associated withrouting logic 306, such as quality-of-service packet delivery.

LDP logic 602 may enforce a specific set of procedures (i.e., LDPprotocol) for exchanging messages (e.g., LDP messages) about labels.Through the exchange of LDP messages, a LIB of each router in network106 may be populated with routing and label information by whichparticipating PE and PS routers may abide.

Briefly, LDP messages may include information about forwardingequivalence classes (FECs) and a label associated (i.e., bound) witheach FEC. At PE router 116, for example, each FEC may represent a classinto which a packet from an outside network may be categorized. Byclassifying packets into FECs and dispatching the packets based onlabels associated with FECs, IP/MPLS network 106 may provide routingservices that are scaleable with increasing packet traffic.

If LDP logic 602 in PE router 116 populates its LIB 406 with FEC andlabel information that is propagated from PE router 118, a LabelSwitched Path (LSP) from PE router 116 to PE router 118 may bedetermined for packets that arrive at PE router 116 from attachmentcircuit 108. Similarly, if LDP logic 602 in PE router 118 populates itsLIB 406 with FEC and label information from PE router 116, a LSP from PErouter 118 to PE router 116 may be determined for packets that arrive atPE router 118 from attachment circuit 110. Each of the two LSPs betweenPE router 116 and PE router 118 may operate as a MPLS tunnel (e.g., apath in which a number of MPLS headers in a packet may be the same atthe path's entry point and its exit point).

Returning to FIG. 6, pseudowire logic 604 may invoke LDP logic 602 ifrouting logic 306 receives or sends information related to FECs and/orlabels for legacy network packets. More specifically, pseudowire logic604 may create or exchange LDP messages about FECs that are associatedwith the legacy network packets and/or labels that are bound to theFECs. As a consequence of exchanging the LDP messages, pseudowire logic604 may establish two LSPs over the MPLS tunnels described above. Thetwo LSPs may form a bidirectional pseudowire, in which each LSP may beunidirectional and may run in a direction opposite to that of the otherLSP.

FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary representation of a pseudowire 702 and someof the components of FIG. 1. As illustrated in FIG. 7, pseudowire 702may extend from attachment circuit 108 to attachment circuit 110 and maydepend on underlying MPLS tunnels 704 and 706 that extend between PErouters 116/118. If established, pseudowire 702 may transport a packetthat flows into PE router 116 from attachment circuit 108.

If the packet arrives at PE router 116, PE router 116 may encapsulate(i.e., convert) the packet into a pseudowire packet by adding apseudowire header to the packet. PE router 116 may encapsulate thepacket as a MPLS packet, by adding a MPLS header, and may route thepacket toward its destination through MPLS tunnel 704. If the packetemerges from MPLS tunnel 704 at PE router 118, PE router 118 maydecapsulate (i.e., convert back) the packet by removing the MPLS headerand the pseudowire header. Based on the information contained within thepseudowire header, the packet may or may not be transmitted toattachment circuit 110.

FIG. 8 depicts an exemplary functional block diagram of pseudowire logic604. As shown, pseudowire logic 604 may include signaling logic 802,Virtual Connectivity Verification (VCCV) logic 804, MultifunctionalControl Channel (MFCC) logic 806, and/or Control Message Processinglogic 808. Signaling logic 802 may include hardware and/or software forestablishing and maintaining pseudowires by exchanging LDP messagesthrough the use of LDP logic 602 and control messages, as describedbelow. VCCV logic 804 may include hardware and/or software for creatingand using a control channel associated with a pseudowire. MFCC logic 806may include hardware and/or software for creating and using amultifunctional control channel associated with a pseudowire. ControlMessage Processing logic 808 may include hardware and/or software forsending control messages and for processing control messages that may bereceived over pseudowires. In PE routers 116 and 118, Control MessageProcessing logic 808 may prevent the control messages from being routedto devices outside IP/MPLS network 106.

Signaling logic 802 may permit identification of pseudowires and maysignal attributes of pseudowires by performing many of functionsperformed by pseudowire logic 604. The functions may include, forexample, exchanging, with PS and PE routers 116-122, LDP messages whichdescribe FECs that are associated with the legacy network packets andlabels that are bound to the FECs.

FIG. 9A shows an exemplary format of a LDP message 900 that may begenerated by signaling logic 802. In general, a LDP header (not shown)may precede one or more LDP messages 900, and each LDP message 900 maytake the type-length-value (TLV) format. As shown in FIG. 9A, LDPmessage 900 may include a variety of fields, such as an Unknown field902, a Message Type field 904, a Message Length field 906, a Message IDfield 908, and a Mandatory/Optional Parameters field 910. Unknown field902 may specify whether a reply to LDP message 900 is to be returned ifLDP message 900 is of an unknown type. For example, if Unknown field 902is “1,” LDP message 900 may be ignored if a value in Message Type field904 is not recognized at the receiving router. Message Type field 904may indicate a LDP message type (e.g., a Keep Alive message, an Addressmessage, a Label Mapping Message, etc.). Message length field 906 mayindicate the cumulative length, in octets, of Message ID 908 field andMandatory/Optional Parameters field 910. Message ID field 908 maycontain a value used to identify LDP message 900. Mandatory/OptionalParameters field 910 may include parameters that may be required and/orare optional for a particular Message Type 904 value.

FIG. 9B shows an exemplary format for Mandatory/Optional Parametersfield 910. As shown, Mandatory Parameters field 910 may include aFEC-TLV field 912, which may provide a list of packet classes (i.e.,FECs). FIG. 9C shows an exemplary format for FEC-TLV field 912. FEC-TLVfield 912 may include a variety of fields (e.g., a Zero-flag field 914,a FEC field 916, a Length field 918, a FEC element field 920, etc.).Zero-flag field 914 and FEC field 916 may be set to constants (e.g., “0”and “0x0100,” respectively). Length field 918 may include a value forthe length of FEC Element field 920.

For pseudowires, FEC Element field 920 may include, for example, a PW IDFEC Element, a Generalized PW ID FEC Element, etc. FIGS. 10A and 10Bshow the exemplary structures of a PW ID FEC Element 1002 and aGeneralized PW ID FEC Element 1018, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 10A, PW ID FEC Element 1002 may include a PW id 1004, aC element 1006, a PW Type 1008, a PW Info Length 1010, a Group ID 1012,a PW ID 1014, and/or an Interface Parameter Sub-TLV 1016. PW id 1004 mayidentify PW ID FEC Element 1002 and may be set to a constant value(e.g., “0x80”). C element 1006 may specify whether a control word ispresent for control messages that may be conveyed over the pseudowireassociated with the PW ID FEC Element 1002. For a pseudowire with aMultifunctional Control Channel (MFCC), C element 1006 may be set to avalue (e.g., “1”), to indicate the presence of a control word in MFCCcontrol messages.

PW Type 1008 may represent the type of pseudowire. Examples of PW Type1008 may include “0x0001” for Frame Relay, “0x0003” for ATM transparentcell transport, “0x0005” for Ethernet, etc. PW Info Length 1010 mayspecify the cumulative length of PW ID 1014 and Interface ParameterSub-TLV 1016. Group ID 1012 may specify an arbitrary 32-bit value thatrepresents a group of pseudowires. PW ID 1014 may identify a particularpseudowire. Interface Parameter Sub-TLV 1016 may be used to provideinterface-specific information, such as attachment circuit (e.g.,attachment circuits 108 and 110) characteristics.

As shown in FIG. 10B, Generalized PW ID FEC Element 1018 may include aGeneralized PW id 1020, a C element 1022, a PW Type 1024, a PW InfoLength 1026, Attachment Circuit (AC) information 1028, and/or anInterface Parameter TLV 1030. Generalized PW id 1020 may identifyGeneralized PW ID FEC Element 1018 and may be set to a constant value(e.g., “0x81”). C element 1022 and PW Type 1024 may specify the sameinformation as C element 1006 and PW Type 1008, as described above. PWInfo Length 1026 may specify the length of Attachment Circuit (AC)Information 1028. Attachment Circuit Information 1028 may specifyaddress information related to local and remote attachment circuits,such as attachment circuits 108 and 110. Interface Parameters TLV 1030may be used to provide interface-specific parameters, similar toInterface Parameter Sub-TLV 1016.

FIG. 10C shows an exemplary structure of Interface Parameters TLV 1030.As shown, Interface Parameters TLV 1030 may include zero fields 1032, aPW Interface Parameter TLV 1034, a length 1036, and/or InterfaceParameter Sub-TLVs 1038. Zero fields 1032 and PW Interface Parameter TLV1034 may be set to constants (e.g., “0x00” and “0x096B,” respectively).Length 1036 may specify the length of Interface Parameter Sub-TLVs 1038.Each of Interface Parameter Sub-TLVs 1038 may be used for the similarpurpose as described above for Interface parameter Sub-TLV 1016.

Returning to FIG. 8, VCCV logic 804 may establish a control channel, byplacing a VCCV Parameter field as Interface Parameter Sub-TLV 1016 (FIG.10A) in PW ID FEC element 1002 and/or in Interface Parameter Sub-TLVs1038 (FIG. 10C) if signaling logic 802 exchanges LDP messages with itspeers.

FIG. 11A illustrates an exemplary format of a VCCV Parameter field 1102.As shown, VCCV Parameter field 1102 may include a Type 1104, a Length1106, Control channel (CC) Types 1108, and Connectivity Verification(CV) Types 1110. Type 1104 may identify VCCV Parameter field 1102 andmay be set to an octet value (e.g., “0x0c”). Length 1106 may provide alength (e.g., four bytes) of VCCV Parameter field 1102 and may be set toa constant value (e.g., “0x04”).

CC Types 1108 may carry an eight-bit field to indicate the type ofcontrol channel(s) by which a router is capable of receiving controltraffic. Of the eight bits in CC Types 1008 field, each of bits “0-2”may be used to designate one of three control channel types (e.g., asassigned by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IRNA)). CV Types1110 may include a bit field to indicate the type of control messagesfor verifying connectivity between pseudowire endpoints. For example, CVTypes 1110 may indicate that control messages may be a LSP Ping (i.e.,an echo request through LSP) or a bidirectional forwarding detection(BFD) signal, which may refer to messages used for continuous monitoringof a route or a data path for faults in both forward and reversedirections.

Returning to FIG. 8, if a pseudowire and an associated control channelare constructed, VCCV logic 804 may send and/or receive control messagesthrough the control channel. The control channel may carry one of themessage types indicated in CV Types 1110 of VCCV Parameter field 1102throughout the life of the control channel. If transmitting controlmessages, VCCV logic 804 may generate a tag, known as a control word, todistinguish the control messages from other pseudowire packets if anin-band control channel is designated by CC Types 1108 field during thecontrol channel setup.

FIG. 11B shows an exemplary placement of a control word in a controlmessage 1112. As shown, the control word may be a PW Associated ChannelHeader 1116 and may be located between a MPLS label stack 1120, whichincludes MPLS headers 1118, and a L3 header 1114. FIG. 11C shows anexemplary structure of PW Associated Channel Header 1116. As shown, PWAssociated Channel Header 1116 may include a Nibble 1122, a Version1124, a Reserved 1126, and a Channel Type 1128. Nibble 1122 may indicatea channel associated with a pseudowire and may be set to a value (e.g.,“0x01”). Version 1124 and Reserved 1126 may be constants and may be setto a value (e.g., “0”). Channel Type 1128 may be one of three values(e.g., “0x0021” to indicate Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPv4), “0x0056”for Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6), or “0x0006” for BFD channelsthat carry packets without Internet Protocol (IP)/User Datagram Protocol(UDP) header).

Returning to FIG. 8, MFCC logic 806 may set a multifunctional controlchannel, by writing VCCV Parameter field 1102 (FIG. 11A) as InterfaceParameter Sub-TLV 1016 (FIG. 10A) in PW ID FEC Element 1002 (FIG. 10A)and/or in Interface Parameter Sub-TLVs 1038 (FIG. 10C) if signalinglogic 802 exchanges LDP messages with its peers. VCCV Parameter field1102 written by MFCC logic 806 may have a similar format as VCCVParameter field 1102 written by VCCV logic 804, except that CC Types1108 may carry a code to signal the MFCC (e.g., bit “3” in bits “3-7”).The MFCC code may be registered, like bits “0-2” in CC Types 1108, withthe IRNA, or may not be registered with the IRNA.

If a pseudowire and an associated MFCC are constructed, MFCC logic 806may use the MFCC by sending and/or receiving control messages over theMFCC. MFCC control channel may carry one or more of the message typesindicated in CV Types 1110 of VCCV Parameter field 1102 throughout thelife of the MFCC control channel.

MFCC control messages may carry a PW Associated Channel Header as itscontrol word. In contrast to Channel Type 1128 of PW Associated ChannelHeader 1116 for VCCV control messages, Channel Type 1128 of PWAssociated Channel Header 1116 for MFCC control message may include avalue that reflects one of the functions represented by CV Types 1110that have been specified during the MFCC setup.

Implementations described above provide an exemplary multifunctionalcontrol channel system for a pseudowire, including the system elements,such as PE/PS routers 116-122, forwarding logic 304, routing logic 306,pseudowire logic 604, signaling logic 802, VCCV logic 804, and MFCClogic 806, as well as associated message structures and formats. FIGS.12-14 depict exemplary processes capable of being performed by one ormore of the system elements.

FIG. 12 shows an exemplary process 1200 for establishing a MFCC for apseudowire. Process 1200 may begin by obtaining parameters related to aremote PE router (e.g. PE router 118) and attachment circuits (e.g.,attachment circuits 108 and 110) (block 1202). In one implementation,the parameters may be obtained from a network administrator or a user.In another implementation, the parameters may be obtained through adynamic auto-discovery procedure.

A MFCC selection may be obtained (block 1204). In one implementation,the obtained selection may be made by a user, an administrator, and/orby another device. In other implementations, a MFCC may be selected as adefault control channel for any pseudowire that may be established.

As further shown in FIG. 12, label distribution may be initiated (block1206). In one implementation, for example, initiating the labeldistribution may include opening and closing LDP sessions, sending Hellomessage, performing other LDP initialization procedures, etc. The labeldistribution may include a Downstream Unsolicited Mode and Liberal LabelRetention Mode. In the Downstream Unsolicited Mode, labels and FECsassociated with the labels may be transmitted from a router todownstream routers without demands from the downstream routers. In theLabel Retention Mode, information about a FEC and a label associatedwith the FEC may be retained by a receiving router independent of a hopdistance between the originating router and the receiving router.

Process 1200 may include advertising PWE and MFCC capabilities (block1208). In one implementation, to advertise PWE and MFCC, a LDP Message,such as a Label Mapping Message, may be written and sent from the PErouter that initiates the PWE. FIG. 13 shows an exemplary process 1300for writing a LDP message that conveys PWE and MFCC capabilities fromone PE router to another PE router.

As shown in FIG. 13, process 1300 may include setting a MFCC code in CCTypes 1108 and bits in CV Types 1110 within VCCV Parameter 1102 field toa value (e.g., “1”) (block 1302). In one implementation, for example,the MFCC code in CC Types 1108 may indicate that the transmitting PErouter supports MFCC. The bits in CV Types 1110 may indicate the typesof control messages that may be conveyed over a pseudowire.

VCCV Parameter field 1102 may be used to form Interface ParametersSub-TLV 1038 (block 1304). Interface Parameters Sub-TLV 1038 may be usedto form Generalized PW ID FEC Element 1018 or PW ID FEC Element 1002(block 1306). In one implementation, in forming Generalized PW ID FECElement 1018, information about attachment circuits, obtained at block1202, may be incorporated as Attachment Circuit Information 1028.

As further shown in FIG. 13, Generalized PW ID FEC 1018 or PW ID FEC1002 may be used to complete an LDP message (block 1308). For example,in one implementation, Generalized PW ID FEC 1018 or PW ID FEC 1002 maybe used to complete a LDP message as described above in connection withFIGS. 9A-9C. Process 1300 may include sending the LDP message (block1310). A LDP message that may be sent may include, for example, aNotification Message, a Label Request Message, a Label Release Message,a Label Mapping Message, etc.

Returning to FIG. 12, process 1200 may include receiving a reply LDPmessage (block 1210). In one implementation, the reply LDP message mayoriginate from the PE router to which the original Label Mapping Messageis sent. The reply LDP message may be a Label Release Message if the PErouter at the other end of a pseudowire is unable to verify theinformation contained in the Label Mapping message. Otherwise, the replyLDP message may be another Label Mapping Message, which may inform thePE router initiating the PWE. If the LDP message is a Label MappingMessage, CV Types 1110 field may contain bits that reflect a subset ofselected functions that are advertised in CV Types 1110 field of theoriginal Label Mapping Message.

Process 1200 may include finalizing the label distribution (block 1212).In one implementation, the finalization may involve opening and closinga LDP session, sending additional LDP messages, etc., in accordance withLDP. If the PE routers finish exchanging Label Mapping Messages andupdate their LIBs, two unidirectional LSPs that transport messages inopposite directions may be available as a bidirectional pseudowire. ThePE routers may exchange MFCC control messages over the pseudowire.

FIG. 14 illustrates an exemplary process 1400 for exchanging MFCCmessages using an MFCC. As shown, process 1400 may begin with theobtaining of a request for MFCC message (block 1402). In oneimplementation, the request may originate from a user and/or anadministrator at a PE router or from a remote device, or from a legacynetwork device.

A control message may be encapsulated as an MFCC message (block 1404).For example, in one implementation, the encapsulation may be performedby adding a PW header (i.e., an MPLS header that indicates PW) and byinserting a control word (i.e., PW Associated Channel Header 1116). Thecontrol word may contain Channel Type 1128 that reflects the selectedfunction among those represented by CV Types 1108 in the reply LabelMapping Message during the MFCC setup.

As further shown in FIG. 14, the MFCC message may be encapsulated withan MPLS header (block 1406) and the encapsulated MFCC message may besent (block 1408). In one implementation, the encapsulated MFCC messagemay arrive at the destination PE router, and if necessary, thedestination PE router may respond with a reply message.

The exemplary processes, described above in connection with FIGS. 12-14,for establishing and using a MFCC may be further illustrated through thefollowing example, in conjunction with implementations described abovein connection with FIGS. 1, 7, 9A-9C, 10A-10C, and 11A-11C. Assume thattwo legacy networks 102 and 104 are Ethernet networks capable ofestablishing a communication channel through PE routers 116 and 118 inIP/MPLS network 106. In addition, assume that PE routers 116 and 118 arecapable of employing a pseudowire as their communication medium.

At PE router 116, parameters related to remote PE router 118 and itsattachment circuit 110 may be obtained through an auto-discoveryprocedure. In addition, PE router 116 may obtain a MFCC as the type ofcontrol channel that is to be used for managing and testing thepseudowire.

If PE router 116 obtains the parameters, PE router 116 may initiatelabel distribution, may begin a LDP session with an adjacent PS router120, and may send a Label Mapping Message. The Label Mapping Message maycontain information in the format illustrated in FIGS. 9A-9C, 10A-10Cand 11A. PS router 120, in turn, may forward the Label Mapping Messageto another PS router. The PS routers in IP/MPLS network 106 may continueto propagate the Label Mapping Message until PE router 118 receives theLabel Mapping Message.

If PE router 118 receives the Label Mapping Message, PE router 118 mayverify the contents of the Label Mapping Message. Upon successfulverification, PE router 118 may update its LIB and may send its ownLabel Mapping Message as a reply. The reply may contain CC Types 1108value in the Label Mapping Message from PE router 116. CV Types 1110value may reflect supported control message types among those presentedby CV Types 1110 field in the Label Mapping Message from PE router 116.If the verification is not successful, PE router 118 may send a LabelRelease Message. Upon receiving the reply from PE router 118, PE router116 may update its own LIB. Through the preceding exchange of LabelMapping Messages, a bidirectional pseudowire may be established.

With a pseudowire in place, PE router 116 may receive a request from anetwork administrator to send a MFCC message to PE router 118. PE router116 may write its control message, and may encapsulate the message as aMFCC message. The encapsulation may involve inserting a control word(e.g., setting Channel Types 1128 with a selected control message typefrom among those in CV Types 1110 in the reply Label Mapping Message)and appending a PW header. The encapsulated message may be encapsulatedwith a MPLS header. PE router 116 may send the resulting MPLS message toPE router 118.

The above example illustrates how a MFCC may be established and used forsending control messages through pseudowires. Unlike VCCV controlchannels, a pseudowire does not need to be re-established if a differenttype of control message is sent over the MFCC to a destination device.By eliminating the need to re-establish pseudowires through LDP messageexchanges, the MFCC may increase available service time, flexibility,and reliability of an IP/MPLS network.

The foregoing description of implementations provides illustration, butis not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the implementations to theprecise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible inlight of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of theteachings.

For example, while FIG. 8 shows signaling logic 802, VCCV logic 804, andMFCC logic 806 in pseudowire logic 604, in other implementations,signaling logic 802, VCCV logic 804, and MFCC logic 806 may havedifferent functional hierarchy. For example, signaling logic 802 mayinclude VCCV logic 804 and VCCV logic 804 may, in turn, include MFCClogic 806.

In another example, while series of acts have been described with regardto processes illustrated in FIGS. 12-14, the order of the acts may bemodified in other implementations. For example, block 1204 may beperformed before block 1202 and/or blocks 1302-1320 may be performedbefore block 1206. Further, non-dependent acts may represent acts thatcan be performed in parallel. For example, blocks 1202, 1204, and 1206may be performed in parallel.

It will be apparent that aspects described herein may be implemented inmany different forms of software, firmware, and hardware in theimplementations illustrated in the figures. The actual software code orspecialized control hardware used to implement aspects does not limitthe invention. Thus, the operation and behavior of the aspects weredescribed without reference to the specific software code—it beingunderstood that software and control hardware can be designed toimplement the aspects based on the description herein.

Further, certain portions of the implementations have been described as“logic” that performs one or more functions. This logic may includehardware, such as a processor, an application specific integratedcircuit, or a field programmable gate array, software, or a combinationof hardware and software.

No element, act, or instruction used in the present application shouldbe construed as critical or essential to the implementations describedherein unless explicitly described as such. Also, as used herein, thearticle “a” is intended to include one or more items. Where only oneitem is intended, the term “one” or similar language is used. Further,the phrase “based on” is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on”unless explicitly stated otherwise.

1. A method comprising: advertising a multifunctional control channel inan advertisement label mapping message that is dispatched to a networkdevice, the multifunctional control channel capable of communicatingdifferent types of control messages for a single pseudowire; processinga reply label mapping message that is transmitted from the networkdevice in response to the advertisement label mapping message; andupdating a label information base to establish a pseudowire associatedwith the multifunctional control channel.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein advertising the multifunctional control channel includes:notifying the network device of a number of multifunctional controlchannel functions; and receiving the reply label mapping message fromthe network device, the reply message indicating which ones of thenumber of multifunctional control channel functions the network devicesupports.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein advertising themultifunctional control channel includes: advertising themultifunctional control channel in pseudowire-related fields in theadvertisement label mapping message.
 4. The method of claim 3, whereinadvertising the multifunctional control channel in thepseudowire-related fields includes: setting a multifunctional controlchannel code in a virtual circuit connectivity verification parameterfield in the advertisement label mapping message.
 5. The method of claim4, wherein setting the multifunctional control channel code includes:setting a control channel types field to particular values.
 6. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: sending different types ofcontrol messages over the multifunctional control channel withouttearing down the pseudowire.
 7. The method of claim 1, whereinadvertising the multifunctional control channel includes: setting fieldvalues in the advertisement label mapping message to indicatemultifunctional control channel capability that does not requirereestablishment of a pseudowire when different types of control messagesare sent over the multifunctional control channel.
 8. The method ofclaim 1, wherein advertising the multifunctional control channelincludes: setting connectivity verification types field bits within avirtual circuit connectivity verification parameter field in theadvertisement label mapping message to indicate types of controlmessages that can be sent through the multifunctional control channel;and dispatching the advertisement label mapping message to the networkdevice.
 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising: forming a controlmessage; and sending the control message over the multifunctionalcontrol channel.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein forming the controlmessage includes: copying a field in the control message from one ormore bit values in a pseudowire-related field in the reply label mappingmessage; and inserting the field at a bottom of an multi-protocol labelswitching label stack in the control message.
 11. The method of claim 1,further comprising: obtaining information about a local attachmentcircuit and a remote attachment circuit connected to the network device;and incorporating the information about the local attachment circuit andthe remote attachment circuit into the advertisement label mappingmessage.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein processing the reply labelmapping message includes: verifying an ability of the network device tosupport the multifunctional control channel by examining the reply labelmapping message.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein processing the replylabel mapping message includes: receiving the reply label mappingmessage; and identifying different types of control messages that thenetwork device will process, based on pseudowire-related fields in thereply label mapping message.
 14. A method comprising: generating arequest to establish a multifunctional control channel for a pseudowire,the multifunctional control channel capable of sending different typesof control messages without tearing down the pseudowire; defining aplurality of functions to be supported by the multifunctional controlchannel if the request is accepted; establishing the pseudowire; andestablishing the multifunctional control channel for the pseudowire ifthe request is accepted.
 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:obtaining information about a local attachment circuit and a remoteattachment circuit connected to a network device; and incorporating theinformation about the local attachment circuit and the remote attachmentcircuit into the request.
 16. The method of claim 14, furthercomprising: receiving a reply in response to the request; andidentifying different types of control messages that are to be supportedin the multifunctional control channel by examining the reply.
 17. Themethod of claim 16, further comprising: forming a control message; andsending the control message over the multifunctional control channel.18. The method of claim 17, wherein forming the control messageincludes: copying a field in the control message from one or more bitvalues in a pseudowire-related field in the reply; and inserting thefield in the control message.
 19. A device comprising: a processor to:send an advertisement of a multifunctional control channel; establish apseudowire and a multifunctional control channel associated with thepseudowire based on a response to the advertisement, the multifunctionalcontrol channel capable of carrying different types of control messageswithout tearing down the pseudowire; send different types of controlmessages over the multifunctional control channel; and exchange labeldistribution protocol messages to indicate a status of the pseudowire orto tear down the pseudowire.
 20. The device of claim 19, wherein one ofthe label distribution protocol messages includes: at least one of apseudowire ID forwarding equivalence class type-length-value element ora generalized pseudowire ID forwarding equivalence classtype-length-value element.